The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1887-05-04
THE BIG BOOM IN THE WEST.
Ex-COngressman Amos Townsend Talks
About Missouri.
New York Tribune

one OF the rIch. solid and substantial
wholesale merchants of Cleveland,
a director in the Bee Line railroad
and interested in various investments
IN the West. He IS a heavy set man
with a heavy face, indicative of good
living. and a reddish brown mustaChe
1T the half aggressive cut, from un
'ierneath which lighted cigar is
generally protrudlng. 4 have just
come from Washington continued
MIR. Townsend, but recently l >pen,
tour or five weeks in Missouri. Kan
sas, Nebraska and Colorado. They
are building railroads out there in
very direcuon. They arg pushing
ne Midland Road INFO Colorado
,ud the main lines OF roads are run
ring spurs in every direction. Real
estate IN Kansas City, Denver, Ona
IA" and such cities is way up. They
tell me that this section of the West
mas never had such boom before.
There is new railroad projected
,cross Missouri from ST. Louis to
Kansas City, with bridge at Alton.
which will form an outlet for the
Bee Line. The road has been talk
ID about for good MANY years.
Mr.. Deyereux used to talk to me
about it when he was alive. l un
derstand it Is finally in shape TO be
put through. Mr.. Post, who used
% live IN New York and was a
member OF the Legislature, was at
the head of the movement for some
lime, and had rival route, of which
Gen. Guitar was the lead. They
nave consolidated the two lines. and
New York people have taken hold
Ut it. 1t is a short route and fine
grade
You have some Missour, invest
ments, l believer
Yes, | have had an interest in
| Bates county, near the Kansas line
There were originally ten OF us who
>tarted IN to develop a tract of coa
land of 1900 acres. Ex-Governo,
Marshall Jewell, Of Connecticut
was president OF the company. One
after another has gradually dropped
out until there are only four of VI
lett. Governor Foster, Gen. Kelfer
" a:nsr Miller and m, self. Th'
Missouri Pacific has built branch
line down 10 our town IN order I,
tap the coal fields. The town wa
originally named Walnut, but ha
been changed to Foster. The tow
company has about 1000 acres Q
land. We are seventy five mile
from Kansas CITY and fifteen mile
from Rich Hill. The coal is only
few feet underground and easiI
taken out
Tell me something about Mis-
sour from, your OHIO point of view
We'll, l regard Missouri as on
OF the richest States in the Unior
1t has 4 splendid soil for agricultur
and is rich in minerals and timbe
There are 400 acres OF as fine waln,
land on our tract as | ever saw an,
= where. Bates county has timbe
> prairie land and splendid waite
J. The characteristics of that coun
extend over the State pretty gene
ally. The soil ard climate are SUI
that they can raise tobacco and hem
Is maize, wheat and corn. The Coz
lie iron and lead properties are valu
lie ble and extensive. The curse of Il
State has been the lingering bord
Id ruffianism that grew out OF the o
e. slavery days. 1t has had such
political atmosphere that Northe
men went around it in gong We
OF, if they Went through 1t, breath
) treer When they got beyond is be
der>. The State hts been At 4 crt
IN disadvantage on. account oS this.
railroads have been built across I